Refrigerating appliance



F. T. RODGERS. REFRIGERATING APPLIANCE. PPLICATION FILED 0 Patented Apr. 18, 1922.

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1,4 1 3,430. Patented Apr. 18, 1922.

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UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FAY TEMPLETON RODGERS, 0F MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

BEFRIGERATING APPLIANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18, 1922.

Application filed December 5, 1921. Serial No. 520,116.

Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented new and useful Improvements in Refrigerating Appliances, and of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to refrigerators, particularly to those of the cabinet display type, and has for its object the provision of a novelstructure of this character in which are provided a plurality of superposed ice containing tanks located at the ends of the device, these tanks containing ice and brine and discharging onto cooling shelves which extend longitudinally of the device, the successive shelves being provided with overflow means whereby to take care of the water produced by the melting of the ice.

An important object is the provision of a refrigerator display case in which the ice tanks are removable from the back of the casing, peculiarly constructed stands being provided for holding the tanks while the latter are being filled with ice.

Another object is the provision of a novel form of over-flow pipe or feed pipe leading from the tank to the cooling shelves or pans, the feed pipe being removable when it is necessary to withdraw the tanks for the purpose of filling them.

Another object is the provision of a device of'this character in which the cooling shelves which are in the nature of elongated rather fiat casings are provided internally with serpentine partitions which insure thorough circulation of thecol'd brine therethrough so that all portions of the interior of the cabinet will be thoroughly cooled.

Another object is the provision of a device of this character which is so constructed that the top of the cooling shelves will be flush so that articles disposed thereon may he slid easily if desired, this particular feature also insuring that the device will be very sanitary inasmuch as it is easily cleaned on account of the absence of projections.

, An additional object is the provision of a device of this character which will be sim 1e and inexpensive in manufacture and install tion, highly efficient in use. durable in service and a general improvement in the art.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure l is a perspective view of a device constructed in accordance with my invention,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough showing the ice tank and cooling shelves in elevation,

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the tanks and cooling shelves in section,

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view showing a plan of two of the tanks and the cooling shelves,

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view, Figure 6 is a detail view illustrating the mounting of the removable outlet spout from the tank to the shelves and Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 are detailed views.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the letter A designates the casing-of a refrigerator of the cabinet type, this casing including the usual top B, bottom 0, ends D, front E and back F. The front E may have a portion thereof, preferably the central portion, formed of glass whereby to display goods disposed within the cabinet and the end portions of the front may be provided with mirrors H or any suitable ornamental panels. It should be stated that the letter G designates the glass portion of the front. The back of the casing is of course provided with any suitable or preferred number of doors I by means of which access may be had to the interior for placing goods therein or removing goods therefrom, it being important however that the end portions of the back he provided with doors J for a purpose to be described.

In carrying out the present invention I make use of a pair, or more, of superposed disposed tanks 12 which are open topped. lie

and which are designed for the reception of ice and salt. These tanks 12 may be withdrawn when the doors J at the back of the casing are opened and to this end the tanks 12 are provided with suitable handles 13 whereby they may be conveniently moved. The back wall of each tank is furthermore provided with an outlet spigot 14 for permitting the passage of the brine water from the tank for the purpose to be described.

The upper shelf or tank 10 is provided at its end with an upwardly extending short pipe 15 which constitutes the inlet to the interior of the hollow shelf and associated with the pipe 15 is an open top trough member 16 which has a downturned end 17 disposable within the pipe 15 and which has its other end closed and adapted for disposition beneath the associated spigot 14 of one of the tanks 12. The numeral 18 designates a clip which is carried by the trough 16 and which is engageable over the associated spigot 14 whereby to hold the trough in proper position to conduct the brine from the tank into the pipe 15 while at the same time the trough is removable when it is necessary to withdraw a tank for the purpose of replenishing the ice supply in the latter. Extending upwardly from the upper shelf 10 at one corner thereof and communicating with the interior is a short pipe section 19 below which is a smaller section 19. communicating with a hole 19 in the bottom of the tray and with which is connected a .downwardly extending overflow pipe 20 which is designed to discharge into a suitable receptacle or into a drain pipe beneath the device. Thisupper shelf 10 is preferably provided with a pan or tray 2l which is filled with cork or other suitable insulating material and which is for the purpose of preventing sweating of the upper shelf and consequently dripping of water down onto goods displayed on the lower shelf.

The lower shelf is provided with upstanding short pipes 22 corresponding to the pipes 15 and into which lead troughs 23 associated with the spigot 14 of the lower tanks. The lower shelf has also an overflow pipe 24 for carrying off the brine.

In order to insure proper circulation of the cold brine through the hollow shelves, I provide the interior of each hollow shelf 10 with a serpentine or circuitous partition 25 which constitutes a bafile and which causes the brine to take an irregular course so that all the cooling qualities of the brine will be utilized.

In the use of the device it is of course apparent that goods to be dis layed may be placed upon either or both 0 the shelves 10 and that the goods will be maintained in a cool and consequently proper condition, it being manifest that all parts of the inte i r of the cabinet will be kept at substantially a uniform temperature owing to the means Vhenever it is necessary to replenish the ice supply within the tank 12, I prefer to make use of a stand which is designated by the numeral 26 and which is adapted to be placed adjacent the opening normally closed by the doors J when the latter is opened, this stand 26 being of the same height as a selected one of the slatted supports 11. lVhen this stand is in position and the door J is opened, in order to replenish the ice supply it is first necessary to disengage the cli 18 of the trough member 16 from the splgot 14 whereupon the tank 12 may be pulled out onto the stand 26 and be filled with ice and salt. After the tank is-filled it is of course pushed back into place and the trough member is again associated therewith.

In actual use it will of course be apparent that as the ice within the tank melts the cold brine will pass out through the spigot 14, though naturally not until the level of the brine reaches the spigot, the fiow being regulated by means of the spigot, the brine passing through the trough members 16 into the pipes 15 and circulating through the hollow shelves and then passing out to the over-flow pipes 20 or 24 as the case may be to the drain.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will be apparent that I have thus provided a very simply constructed and yet highly efficient refrigerating apparatus of the type used in cabinet refrigerators, the construction being such as to insure maintaining goods in a proper and saleable condition, ample means being furthermore provided whereby to permit easy replenishment of the ice supply.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. A refrigerating device comprising a casing provided in its back with doors, a plurality of superposed hollow shelves secured within the casing and provided with upwardly extending inlet pipes and further provided with over-flow pipes, supporting members located at the ends of said shelves,

the tanks, and removable conductor members detachably connected with the spigot and disposed within said inlet pipes.

2. A refrigerating device comprising a casing provided in its back with doors, a plurality of superposed hollow shelves secured within the casing and provided with upwardly extending inlet pipes and further provided with overflow pipes, supporting members located at the ends of said shelves, tanks removably mounted upon said supporting members and located opposite the doors in the casing, said tanks being designed to contain ice and salt, and outlet means leading from said tanks to said inlet pipes, said means comprising spigots carried by the tanks, and removable conductor members detachablyconnected with the spigot and disposed within said inlet pipes, said conductor members being formed as troughs having open tops and downturned ends engageable within the inlet pipes and having their other ends closed, the troughs being disposable beneath the spigots, and securing means carried by the troughs and engageable with the spigots.

3. A refrigerating device comprising a provided 111 its back with doors, a

casing v plura ity of superposed hollow shelves secured within the, casing and provided with upwardly extending inlet pipes and overflow pipes, supporting members located atthe ends of said vshelves, tanks removably mounted upon said supporting members and located opposite the doors in the casing, said tanks being designed to contain ice and salt, and outlet means leadingfrom said tanks to said inlet pipes, said means comprising spigots carried by the tanks and removable conductor members detachably connected with the spigots and disposed within said inlet pipes, said conductor members being formed as open topped troughs having down turned ends engaging within the inlet pipes, the troughs being disposable beneath the spigots, and securing members of loop like formation carried by the troughs and detachably engageable upon the handles of the spigots. Y

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FAY TEMPLETON RODGERS. 

